Married To The Game

C:18 | No New Friends

I couldn't wait until I got home so I could tell Josh what happened. I knew he would drop everything to come lay with me, give me a well-needed massage and turn me out. I really wanted him to give me a bath, too, but I went ahead and got in to give Shay and Snow a reason to go home instead of chilling at my place. Even though it wasn't their fault that everything went down like that, I was ready to be up under my man and for them to keep it pushing. Finally, I got a hold to Josh, and as expected, he was on his way. I ran myself a hot bubble bath and soaked all the mace off my body. Josh was here in less then twenty minutes. And as expected, he catered to my every need. "So who is the girl you fought?" He asked, while we laid on the bed watching Friday. I didn't tell Josh all the details, just that I got into a fight and security roughed me up really bad. I figured now was the time to tell Josh everything, since all my loose ends were pretty much tied up. So that's what I did, from start to finish. I didn't tell Josh how I crossed Omari, and I left out the part where I added Snow in the mix, because I really didn't know how to tell someone I assisted in a HIV spread. Damn, spread. I didn't even realize that Marcus probably still didn't know he had aids, so he was giving it to God knows who. And the way he was slinging dick, the whole city would be infected. I wanted to warn Marcus, not for his sake, but for the sake of the other girl's lives he would be taking. But on the other hand, who's to say that would even stop him? Marcus was a certified hoe, I was convinced almost nothing would stop him from getting his nut in. I didn't want what I used to punish Marcus to ruin someone else's life. It would be a lot of fallen angels around the city. But on second thought, that was between him and God.

"Hello? You don't hear me talking to you?" Josh said, this time shaking me. "Huh?" "I said so you fought her because you're not over Damarcus?" "Marcus. And did you not hear the story? No that's not the reason I fought her. That bitch took my baby and had sex with my man, faithfully, while I was at work. She came out the blue pretending to want to spend time with me, just so she could be around him. So yeah, she had it coming." I said, licking the butter pecan ice cream off my spoon. "So why am I here? Obviously you still got feelings for the nigga." "Josh what are you talking about?" I instantly got annoyed. Josh was bugging. How did me beating Dashia's ass turn into me being in love with Marcus? Josh was on one. He wasn't the jealous type, but he was tripping with this one. Hell, the nigga had aids now, so even if I did have feelings for him, there was no going back. Maybe his fiancee leaving him was causing him to trip on me about leaving him. But that had nothing to do with me, and if that was the case, Josh needed to be single and out of my bed. "Why are you so defensive about me calling that nigga Damarcus? And your man?" "Josh please don't start this, that's not even what I meant." He took a deep sigh as I ran my hand across his back in a attempt to calm him down. "I'm sorry, i'm bugging. Really i'm mad the nigga did you like that. I just don't want you to go back to him, I know y'all was together since you moved down here. And he's the reason you got in the game, which you're so passionate about. Speaking of which, do you still think you're going to keep hustling? I mean look at how much money you already made." "I don't know, Josh. I thought you said you were okay with it?" I said, now irritated that he was bringing this up again. "I was just wondering. You never talk to me about it. I kinda wanna know more about it." "Not right now, Josh." And really, not ever. I wasn't up for telling Josh about my work or giving him too much insight into what I did or had to do. The less he knew, the better. Because the more he knew the more he would find out about the person who I had become.

The sound of my phone blowing off the hook woke my ass up. By now, I was used to this. "Hello?" I said, half sleep. "Hey, E?" "Who is this?" "It's Rell." "Rell? Rell who?" "Tyrell. I just cashed my check, can you meet me later?" I looked at the date on my iphone, before holding my burner phone back up to my ear. It was the fifteenth. I did a deep sigh, thinking about how busy I was going to be today. I just wanted to chill today, but when money was calling I was moving. "Yeah Rell, how much you need? Just the regular?" "Nah, I want a pound." "A pound? Get the fuck out, Rell. I know your check wasn't that damn much." I almost jumped out of bed, causing Josh to wake up. My junkies never buy that much, the most they'll get at one time is maybe a ounce. "I got hit by a car last month. My settlement check just came today."  "What time you want it, Rell?" "Can you meet me at eight? I can get a ride to JoJo's shop by then if you can meet me." I sucked my teeth. JoJo's barber shop was on the other side of town, damn near a hour away. If Rell was bullshitting, I was gonna make sure he got some dummies the next time I served him. Why he was damn near in Ft. Lauderdale, getting hit by cars, I don't know. And why he couldn't of found another plug down there, I didn't know that either. But I did know one thing, I wasn't missing out on this settlement check. I guess the drive would be worth it, I haven't seen JoJo since he moved shop down in Lauderdale. JoJo was Marcus's old barber, and we use to double date with him and his wife all the time. I wondered if he knew what kind of man his old client really was. "Okay Rell, ima see you at eight. Don't be on no bullshit, either." I said, before disconnecting the call. "Who was that?" "One of my serves. I gotta go to Lauderdale tonight." "Let me come with you." "What? No. It's too risky, I don't want anybody seeing you out with me like that." "Oh, you're ashamed of me?" Josh teased. "Never." I said, before kissing him and getting out of bed. "You're about to leave now?" He called from the bedroom, as I got in the shower. "Yeah, I gotta meet with Snow to pick up some money, and finish selling the rest of my dope." As I lathered up my body with soap, I couldn't help but think of how good everything was going.

After I left Coconut Grove, selling the little bit of dope I had left, I made my way down to JoJo's shop. Snow told me she had a big play tonight too, so I was in a good mood that both of us were getting to some money. I arrived at JoJo's shop about a quarter to eight, scoping the place out. Since JoJo's light was still on in the shop, I went in just before he flipped the sign to close. "I'm bout to close up for the day." He said, with his back still turned towards me. "Well good thing I don't need a cut." He turned around, at the sound of my voice. "Esther! What you doing on this side of town, girl?" He embraced me into a bear hug. "Oh you know, just getting around." "Where's my boy Marcus at? He in the car?" He looked past me, trying to see if there was anybody in the car I was pushing. Today, I decided I would take my Benz-truck. "Nah, me and Marcus actually broke up, JoJo." He gave me the standard fake-devastated look. "What? Damn, man. That's some bullshit, I thought you would hold it down for my boy." He turned back around, continuing to count his drawer. Out the side of my eye, I notice a all black Chevy driving back and forth up the street, not going anywhere in particular. "JoJo, you expecting company?" I asked, peeping at the Chevy again, before a Maserati parked itself outside of JoJo's shop. "Nah, why?" We waited as the Maserati owner entered the shop. It was Snow. The looks on our faces said everything. "Esther? What are you doing here?" She beat me to the question game. "Rell called me and told me he needed some work. He was suppose to meet me here at eight." I said, viewing the time, which was now eight fifteen. "Rell? Rell Rell? He told me to meet him here at eight, too?" Snow said, confused. Realizing what was going on, I yelled "Get down!" as the bullets sprayed the barber shop. We threw our bodies on the floor for cover. It was a got damn set up.

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